Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) was founded in 1950 and is the only university in southwest China specializing in foreign language teaching and in cultivating qualified professionals with a diverse range of expertise in the realms of the educational and scientific bases and it is also the center for materials and advisory on foreign languages. SISU is authorized to confer Bachelor and Master of Arts Degrees. It also serves as the test center for such tests as TOEFL, IELTS, GRE, and graded tests in applied computer science. SISU has 19 foreign language schools attached to it as well.
Established in 2000, Chengdu Institute Sichuan International Studies University (CISISU) is approved by the Ministry of Education, is run by SISU and invested by the Derui Enterprise Development Company. It is located in the Chengdu High and New-Tech Development West Zone in Sichuan Province. It covers an area of more than 35.33 hectares with a total architectural area of more than 22,0000 square meters. On the campus, there are modern and fully functional buildings including: The Office Building, Class Room Buildings, The Multifunction Hall, Gymnasium, a swimming pool, a stadium with a standard plastic track and a turn-bound football field, as well as students’ dormitories with each apartment supplying hot water, housing for two or four students, and a standardized students’ dining hall that can hold several thousand diners. The campus is ideal for students to learn and study, for it has a quiet environment with verdant grass, fresh flowers, beautiful trees, and lush, green bamboo.
CISISU’s chief leaders and some of the teaching an administrative staff are appointed by SISU. Its program, curriculum, choice of pedagogical materials, teaching mode, and evaluation of teaching work are carried out by the criteria of SISU.
CISISU has 8 departments offering English, Japanese, German and Spanish. It comprises specialties including translation, economy and trade, tourism, foreign affairs administration, and teaching training. CISISU has a strong contingent of devoted, qualified, and experienced teachers with some bearing high professional titles as course teaching teachers, some are of high degree as key members, and there are young teachers who make up the main body.
The professional staff consists of over 300, of that, 68 are professors and associate professors and there are more than 100 lecturers. Some teachers have learned or lectured abroad. Foreign Teachers and professors are also employed and teach every year. CISISU has recruited over 7,000 full-time students.
As of 2004, the diploma of freshmen will be awarded by CISISU and their Bachelor
Degree will still be conferred by SISU.